Barry's Place - Atauro Island
Barry's Place is where we head when we want to slow down and really look. It’s a muck dive, pure and simple, but don't let the "mud" put you off. This isn't a colourful reef; it’s a treasure hunt across silty slopes and isolated rubble patches, perfect for intermediate divers who appreciate the small stuff. We find the 5-25m depth range just right for long bottom times. Visibility can vary, particularly after rain, but we've still found plenty to keep us occupied even in murkier conditions. Our favourite find here, without fail, are the pygmy seahorses, tucked away on tiny gorgonian fans – you'll need a good guide and a sharp eye. Nudibranchs are everywhere, in every colour and shape imaginable, and we’ve spent entire dives just tracking their trails. Keep an eye out for cuttlefish, too; they often materialise from the gloom. It's a site that rewards patience and a keen interest in macro life. Bring your macro lens and prepare to get properly lost in the details.
- Location
- Atauro Island, Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -8.240000, 125.580000
- Type
- muck
- Maximum Depth
- 5-25m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Suco de Vila
Best Time to Dive in Atauro Island
The warmest water temperatures in Atauro Island occur in January, averaging 30.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.1°C (air: 24.0°C)
- February: 30.1°C (air: 23.6°C)
- March: 30.1°C (air: 23.9°C)
- April: 30.1°C (air: 24.1°C)
- May: 30.1°C (air: 24.5°C)
- June: 30.1°C (air: 23.9°C)
- July: 30.1°C (air: 23.3°C)
- August: 30.1°C (air: 23.8°C)
- September: 30.1°C (air: 24.4°C)
- October: 30.1°C (air: 25.3°C)
- November: 30.1°C (air: 25.6°C)
- December: 30.1°C (air: 24.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Atauro Island
- Adara - 5-30m (wall)
- Alor - 5-20m (reef)
- Kal's Dream
- Whale Shark Alley - 10-40m (drift)
Nearest Dive Centres to Barry's Place
- Dive In Alor
- Nautika Dive Alor - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Atauro Island
Home to 263 recorded species including 241 reef fish, 8 seagrass & algae, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 other, 2 clams & mussels, 2 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) - Reef Fish
- Sunburst Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Two-tone wrasse (Thalassoma amblycephalum) - Reef Fish
- Two-spot Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus binotatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Ternate Chromis (Chromis ternatensis) - Reef Fish
- Angel abu polos (Centropyge vrolikii) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Mimic Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus) - Reef Fish
- Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma hardwicke) - Reef Fish
- Pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
Recommended Packing List for Barry's Place
Based on average water temperature of 30.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories